Google Play Editions of HTC One and Galaxy S4 up on US Playstore now

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ajobbins

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#848298 2-Jul-2013 15:51

I don't know why the core OS can't be separated someone from what the manufacturers and operators need to do in order to do a software release.

It would be like buying a new PC from HP, then having to wait for HP to release to you a new version of Windows before you could install it.

Surely any device specific drivers could be released as a stand along package, and any network customisations downloaded and applied as needed.

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nzgeek

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#849280 4-Jul-2013 14:43

There are too many dependencies between the layers in order to have the core OS updated separately from the rest of the platform.

Many times, there are changes to the framework that require new kernel capabilities in order to function (e.g. hardware compositing of UI items). Each phone has different hardware, and under Linux the drivers are baked into the kernel, so each kernel update needs to have the relevant drivers. Because Android supports such a wide range of hardware, and because there are still a number of closed-source drivers for various components, it becomes impossible for Google to manage the rollouts.

Both iOS and Windows Mobile have an advantage here. With iOS there are only a small number of hardware variations to support, and Apple make them all. They control the end-to-end process, so can have a single global update. Windows Mobile also has limited hardware support, with only a handful of CPU/GPU chipsets being supported. It also has a more modular driver architecture, meaning that the drivers are not part of the core kernel. Unless the driver architecture changes (like what happened between XP and Vista), you can update the core OS and not disrupt the additional components.

Wade

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#865514 25-Jul-2013 07:25

Well Google has announced 4.3 will begin to roll out today on the Nexus 4, 7 & 10, shall we take bets on how long the GPe models take to receive update?

I am expecting to be semi surprised, given the S4 4.3 leak there is a good chance it might not be too far away, the One, who knows.......

jeffnz

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#865536 25-Jul-2013 08:04

Wade: Well Google has announced 4.3 will begin to roll out today on the Nexus 4, 7 & 10, shall we take bets on how long the GPe models take to receive update?

I am expecting to be semi surprised, given the S4 4.3 leak there is a good chance it might not be too far away, the One, who knows.......

not a huge change from 4.2.2 that I can see, not a huge fan of the GE tried it for a week but as with CM and AOSP I seem to always gravitate back to Samsung as you lose some functionality when you stray.

For me if you are going GE then you may as well have the Nexus phone as that is what its designed for whereas HTC, Samsung, sony etc have software specifically for that device so why put a neutral software in it that takes away some of the functionality.

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nzgeek

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#865547 25-Jul-2013 08:24

jeffnz: For me if you are going GE then you may as well have the Nexus phone as that is what its designed for whereas HTC, Samsung, sony etc have software specifically for that device so why put a neutral software in it that takes away some of the functionality.

The flaw in this argument is that the Nexus phones tend to have weaker hardware than the GE phones. We're talking lower spec processors, lower res screens, no microSD support, etc. Sometimes it is necessary to throw away the bells and whistles in order to get the hardware you want.

Personally though, I'm like you. I've got too used to the extras that custom AOSP ROMs provide. I'm currently using a Paranoid Android variant because of the way it handles screen DPI settings. My email thinks it's running on a tablet and the XDA forum app thinks it's running on a 6" screen phone. No way you'd get that on a GE ROM.

kiwitrc

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#865548 25-Jul-2013 08:24

jeffnz:
Wade: Well Google has announced 4.3 will begin to roll out today on the Nexus 4, 7 & 10, shall we take bets on how long the GPe models take to receive update?

I am expecting to be semi surprised, given the S4 4.3 leak there is a good chance it might not be too far away, the One, who knows.......

not a huge change from 4.2.2 that I can see, not a huge fan of the GE tried it for a week but as with CM and AOSP I seem to always gravitate back to Samsung as you lose some functionality when you stray.

For me if you are going GE then you may as well have the Nexus phone as that is what its designed for whereas HTC, Samsung, sony etc have software specifically for that device so why put a neutral software in it that takes away some of the functionality.

Apart from Ext SD and removable battery of course.

Wade

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#865694 25-Jul-2013 10:54

I was quite happy with TW on my S3 and probably would have felt the same if i had the S4 however Sense is hideous (imho) and for what i lose in "features" I gain in simplicity and arguably better performance (smoother, better battery life etc). If the rumoured Nexus 5 has IR blaster than that feature will be resurrected in the GPe's I guess, the trade off for me sways in favour of GE.

The biggest GE drawcard for me is timely (hopefully) updates and hopefully a bit more futureproof, Samsung have all but forgotten about the original S2, soon the S3 will be forgotten and these are still relatively current phones. An S4 or One owner will still be able to run up to date GE OS's on their device extending the usable life of the phone (from a techie perspective)

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jeffnz

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#865762 25-Jul-2013 11:58

an interesting article i just read on XDA puts it quite well.

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timmmay

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#865827 25-Jul-2013 13:02

A review I read of GPE editions of the phone suggest the original firmware is a little better in some areas - camera for example. The phone manufacturer can tailor the software more easily than google generic editions.

Wade

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#871480 4-Aug-2013 07:08

So it has taken a little over a week for the GPe handsets to start seeing the 4.3 OTA, I think this is an acceptable timeframe so the concept looks like it is working

I am running 4.3 while my peers are chasing the 4.2 Sense OTA so the benefits of GPe far outweigh any losses in my books. The one feature I was sad to lose was IR support but this is now part of GPe 4.3 so I couldn't be happier. I sideloaded the Sense camera and to be honest in real world terms neither seem to be better than the other, if anything the speed of the Google camera is incredible

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